"We just wanted to get through the spring, and he's just got better and better each run. Hopefully he'll cope in Hong Kong. He's not used to the stable environment and going right."

Alcopop is set to fly over next week with fellow Group 1 winners Sea Siren and Dunaden.

THE Victorian racing industry finally has some good news, with wagering tax to stay at 7.6 per cent, despite Treasury officials recommending 13.8 per cent.

Racing Minister Denis Napthine yesterday rejected Treasury's recommendation and declared Victorian racing now would be "significantly better off" with a $440 million benefit over the next decade.

"(Treasurer) Kim Wells and I said it may be the view of officers of the Treasury to wish to take more, but we are practical and understand that racing brings in $2 billion to the economy annually and employs 70,000 people," Dr Napthine said.

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